A quick little review for you of a fantastic book I just plucked off the shelf. I've avoided returning this book to the publisher twice now, and never got a chance to sit down and read it. I finally did this weekend (Happy Memorial Day to you all!) and am promptly going to be purchasing this book on Tuesday because it's amazing and I need to own it. So, when you all come rushing in to buy a copy for yourselves, wait a few days because it won't be back in until probably Friday. :)
Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters by Lesley M. M. Blume
(click on the title to go to Lesley M.M. Blume's Cornelia webpage!)
This was a surprisingly fabulous read! What made me want to read this book was the fascinating title and adorable cover art. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the content reflected both the title and the art! This book is a little reminiscent of A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, but shorter, updated, and the storyline is a different. Cornelia is the only child of two famous pianist parents, except she's never met her father, and her mother is always off traveling to some foreign part of the world giving piano concerts (hence the orphan-like existence of Sara Crewe). People, especially adults, often relate to Cornelia as this famous woman's daughter, rather than as Cornelia herself. As a result, Cornelia spends a lot of her time alone reading lots of books, especially dictionaries, coming up with longer and longer words to use to get people (especially her well-intentioned but nosy housekeeper, Madame Desjardins) to stop talking to her. When a new neighbor moves in across the hall, this famous Somerset sister opens up new worlds of adventure and imagination for Cornelia, with the unexpected improvement of Cornelia's happiness along the way. A must-read for anyone who loved A Little Princess or fun new books like The Penderwicks series. Simple, beautiful descriptive language, and the bonus of funny stories within the story make this a delightful summer read. This could be read aloud to anyone age 6 and up, probably a read-alone for anyone age 8/9 and up.
Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters by Lesley M. M. Blume
Paperback: 9780440421108 $5.99
Hardcover: 9780375835230 $15.95
Happy Reading!
-Rebecca
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